Improved regulator valve



Sept. 10, 1935. c. B. Mol-:LWAINE IMFROVED REGULATOR VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 17, 1934 w m W, M M, w 7. w C. y m 4 J A, U llv w wd/ w di M. 7. Y l\ /1 M N Mr Y f. I\Z Mm/H y @l l D 257// 7 H ,/d w y Home y SePt- 10, 1935- Y c. s4 Mcl-:LWAINE I 2,013,860

IMPROVED REGU LLLLLLLL VE Filed May 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Home y Patented Sept. 1G, 1935 IMPROVED REGULATOR VALVE Clayton B. McElwaine,

Tulsa, Okla., assigner of fifty-one per cent to Henry N. Greis, Tulsa,

Okla.

Application May 17, 1934, serial No. 726,154

Claims.

This invention relates to the valve art and has more particular reference to various lines of valve structures such as globes, checks, angles and the like, but has more particular reference to a gas or `5 fluid pressure reducing valve commonly known in the trade as a regulator.

By way of introduction it is to be further pointed out that this improved regulator valve is especially adapted for use and association with a novel duplex diaphragm and toggle control mechanism constituting the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 726,153 filed under date of May 1'7, 1934, by me.

It is a matter of common knowledge that some manufacturers use a soft seated valve made of leather or rubber, while others use a hard seated or metal valve. Both of these types have their particular advantages and faults. All valve faces of different makes are subjected to the direct right angle flow of the high pressure gases. This cutting blast causes rapid deterioration and soon ruins any style seat for a tight shut-off. The hard seated valve withstands the cutting effect better but with a very little erosion here, it is obvious the positive shut-off is rendered useless. The soft seated valve shows this cutting effect to a greater degree but it does adapt itself to the shape of the valve seat by reason of its elastic or plastic composition which conforms under the pressure of the diaphragm action. It is of high importance that a gas regulator should render a positive shut-o to avoid dangers and Wastage.

With these thoughts in mind I have designed a valve combining both a hard seat and soft seat, compounding the advantages of both and eliminating their disadvantages.

Briefly stated the improved valve structure relies for novelty upon the adoption and use of a cylindrical shell having a seat equipped nozzle at its bottom and open at its top to accommodate a reciprocatory mechanically controlled cut-off valve unit.

Additional novelty is based on this reciprocator cut-off valve assembly or unit which is ingenious in that it includes main and secondary companion parts, the secondary one of which is in the nature of a volume regulating nozzle moved to upper position when the main cut-olf valve is approximately closed, in order to allow for the requisite minimum flow of gas through the valve from the main supply into the special control diaphragm structure with which this valve is adapted to cooperate.

Other and more explicit features of the invention will become more readily evident as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a sectional View of the complete structure showing the parts assembled with the cut-off valve lifted to open position, the section being on the line l--I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view Vof the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the main shell or cage.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional and elevational view of the main part of the cut-olf valve assembly.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the composition or rubber seat ring. Y

Figure 8 is a detail view of the conical ended gas pressure reducing nozzle.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals I iirst call attention to the shell or cage shown in Figure 4. This is denoted by the numeral 9 and comprises a cylinder which is substantially open at its upper end as indicated at Ill. The lower end thereof is formed with a reduced screw-threaded attaching nipple I I having a gas inlet bore or passage l2 and a channel or Vgroove I3 to accommodate the packing or seat ring I4 and a part I5 which constitutes the hard metal seat. In other Words there are two seats that is the hard metal seat I5 at the extreme inner end of the bore I2 and a soft leather seat lli. It is therefore necessary to construct a valve assembly which will cooperate with this arrangement.

This valve assemblage shown in Figure 1 comprises the main reciprocatory sleeve I6 whose surface is grooved or iluted to define gas passageways or channels Il. It is internally screw threaded at its top as indicated at I8 to accommodate a closing plug IS which functions as a toggle nut as will be hereinafter explained. At the bottom is an extension or neck I9 whose lower end is beveled as at 2t to form a seat contacting surface for cooperation with the soft seat ring I4. This sleeve I6 constitutes the main section of the cutoff valve assembly. The entire unit is reciprocated up and down by mechanical linkage means shown as a part of the aforesaid copending application. It is also to be observed that the sleeve is provided with an internal annular ledge 2| which constitutes a shoulder for the complemental head ofthe valve unit or nozzle. This nozzle is distinguished by the numeral 2r and is shown in detail in Figure 8. Thus the sleeve I6 is the main unit and the nozzle 22 the secondary unit. The nozzle is provided with a conical seating surface 23 to engage the hard metal seat I5. It is also to be provided with a head 26 to engage the shoulder 2l. Then too, the conical end 23 is formed with a central orifice or gas passage E5. The all metal nozzle is movable within the connes of the gas trapping chamber 26. The head 2e is seated against the shoulder 2l through the action of a spring 21 located in this chamber for bearing at one end against the nut I9 and having its opposite end located in the socket portion of the nozzle. It is to be observed that the lower end of the coil spring is formed With an extension or nger 28 which extends down and through the orifice 25 and acts as a Vibrating jigger to keep this passage open and to avoid clogging with extraneous matter. This is an ingenious feature.

In connection with the nut I9 it is to be observed that it is provided with a head 2S and an extension 3e, these parts being adapted to accommodate the operating element of a toggle control structure (not shown here but shown in the aforesaid copending application). Thus, as before stated it is evident that the entire valve cut-off unit comprising the nut I9, the main sleeve unit It and the spring seated nozzle 22 is forced down mechanically Vto close the position by automatic control means. It is obvious however that it is unseated and held open by the gas pressure when the conditions are such as to force it open. It is further obvious that when it is forced down mechanically the beveled surface 2li engages the seat ring I4. At the same time the conical end 23 of the nozzle engages the metal seat I5 and this lifts the nozzle against the action of the spring 2l allowing the gas to flow in through the orice 25, to ll the chamber 26 to escape from the chamber down between the nozzle and the clearance space 3l, that is the space between the neck I9 and the nozzle. The escaping gas then passes between the parts I4 and 26 and then flows through the passages I1.

This improved valve absorbs all Wear of the gas blast, while regulator is working, i. e. while gas is passing through to meter for low pressure consumption. This nozzle 22 is held to place by the spring 2'! against the shoulder 2| of shut ol valve as shown in the drawings. One would naturally think if the gas inlet pressure assumed great velocity through inlet orice it would have a tendency to push the nozzle and spring back and away from orifice, thus opening the valve wider and destroying the automatic function of the diaphragm action. Such is not the case however, for the pressures are instantly equalized. The same principle is involved here as trying to blow a cork in a bottle. The shut-01T valve assembly, including nozzle, spring and toggle nut forms an air-tight background, the same as the bottle in the above illustration. Y

The gist of the invention is in the provision of a cylindrical cage or shell constituting a casing for the reciprocatory valve unit, said valve unit being seated by mechanical means and opened by a gas pressure or other mechanical means. The valve unit or asembly is characterized as unique in that it includes a specially constructed sleeve or main part I6 constructed to accommodate the spring pressed independently operable nozzle 22. In connection with the nozzle 22 it will be observed that another advantage of the small orifice 25 is that it serves in allowing a small quantity of gas to pass through regulator while the seat 2e of the sleeve I6 is but slightly spaced from the seat I This should eliminate the wiredrawing or cutting of valve seat, common in other makes. The same illustration applies to 5 the correction of that fault known as regulator pumping, which is caused by the intermittent quick opening and closing of a larger orice subjected to high pressures against a low pressure discharge and the resultant kick back and forth. 10

We will now assume the low pressure consumption through meter is entirely closed at burner end. The incoming high pressure gas builds the low pressure up slightly, expanding more the diaphraglns (not shown) which in turn pushes the 15 shut o valve down against the soft seat to a positive closure to incoming feed gas. This soft seat may be of any suitable material possessing elasticity, such as leather or rubber and its shape may be optional either flat or biased. The soft 20 seat lies out of the way of the inlet feed gas it is not exposed to the high pressure stream. Its sole and only purpose is to insure a long lasting positive shut 01T.

Having thus described my invention, what I 2.5

. claim as new is:

1. In a valve structure of the class described, a cage including an inlet end formed with a fluid intake passage provided at its inner end with a hard metal seat and a surrounding soft seat, and 30 a reciprocatory valve unit mounted in said cage and embodying inner and outer hollow parts separately engageable with said seats, the inner member leading the fluid from the intake passage into the outer member and said inner member being spaced from the outer member to permit the iiuid to escape between the two members when the outer member is lifted from the soft seat. Y

2. In a valve structure of the class described, a cage including an inlet end formed with a gas intake passage provided at its inner end with a hard metal seat and a surrounding soft seat, and a reciprocatory valve unit mounted in said cage and embodying parts separately engageable with said seats, one part being in the nature of a main cut-off Valve unit and engageable with the soft seat, the other part being in the nature of a reducing nozzle and engageable with said hard Seat. 3. In a valve structure of the class described, a cage including an inlet end formed with a gas intake passage provided at its inner end with a hard metal seat and a surrounding soft seat, and

a reciprocatory Valve unit mounted in said cage ducing nozzle and engageable with said hard seat, V

and all of the parts of said valve assembly, eX- cepting the soft seat, being constructed of metal.

4. A valve assembly for use and association with a cage structure of the type described comprising a main cut-off sleeve unit, a closure for the upper end thereof, said sleeve unit having its exterior fashioned to provide gas passages having its lower end fashioned to provide an extension neck terminating in a beveled cut-oif seat, the inner end portion of said neck being fashioned to provide an annular ledge constituting a shoulder, and a nozzle slidable through said neck, said nozzle having a head at its inner end engageable with said shoulder, having its lower end tapered and extending beyond the beveled seat, said 7 5,A

tapered end being centrally apertured, and a coiled spring located in said nozzle, conned in said sleeve and bearing against said closure.

5. In a valve assembly of the class described, an operating nut, a sleeve attached to said nut, said sleeve being provided at its lower end with a cut-off seat and a shoulder, a nozzle mounted for sliding in said neck having a head on its inner end located in said sleeve and engageable with said shoulder the lower end of said nozzle being tapered and centrally apertured, a coiled spring located in said sleeve, engageable with said nozzle at one end and with its nut at the opposite end, one end of said spring being fashioned with a cleaning finger extending through said orice, and a cross sectional diameter of said nozzle being less than the cross sectional diameter of said neck to provide gas clearance space.

CLAYTON B. MCELWAINE. 

